When Sinead O’Sullivan is charged with stealing the Fire of Autumn - a dazzling ruby with a notorious history - investigator Niall Moore is hired to stop her fleeing and to find the jewel. Though Sinead needs to convince Niall of her innocence, telling him everything she knows will expose secrets she is desperate to keep hidden.

Sinead and Niall may not trust each other an inch, but they find it impossible to ignore the fierce carnal heat between them. Niall an expert interrogator, uses every trick of the trade - and every weapon in his erotic armoury - to get at the truth. Sinead, a fast learner, counters his every move with one of her own. Thief and thief-taker fight for dominance and there can only be one winner.

But what happens in their red-hot game of cat and mouse when criminals chasing the precious jewel come after Sinead...and the stakes become deadly?”

==========================================================

The books in this series are, for lack of a better word, great fun. Evie Hunter - a partnership of two Irish authors - has managed to find the perfect balance between suspense and sexy. What’s even better the author manages to integrate these two aspects of the story in a very satisfactory and unputdownable manner.

In this, the third ‘Pleasures’, title we meet Sinead who has been leading a double life to finance her way through college. When she’s offered a job in a museum in Zurich she abandons her alter ego - Lottie, a burlesque dancer - and embraces the more serious life she’s worked so hard to achieve. Sinead has only been working in the museum for a short while when a precious ruby is stolen and she is the main and only suspect. Security camera footage clearly shows her stealing the ‘Fire of Autumn’ and leaving the museum with it. With proof as obvious as this, nobody is likely to believe Sinead’s claims that she is innocent.

Enter Niall Moore, owner of Moore Enterprises, a security firm. Initially he is hired by the Zurich museum to recover the stolen ruby which seems easy enough since the thief and her whereabouts are known. Things get more complicated when Sinead’s uncle, Tim O’Sullivan, also hires Niall to keep an eye on his niece and help her. The situation becomes near impossible when Niall meets Sinead and discovers there is an instant attraction between himself and the museum curator who may appear to be boring and plain but soon discloses her adventurous side as well as her well hidden beauty.

What follows in an adventure in which Sinead is so desperate to hang on to the secret of her double life that other things she tells Niall are dismissed as lies as well. These two characters shouldn’t be getting on at all but find themselves unable to keep their hands off each other. Add to that an American operative known for his cruelty and violence and you find yourself reading a book that doesn’t contain a single boring moment.

Did I mention that this book is sexy? Trust me it is. Niall is a Dominant who has long ago resigned himself to the fact that he won’t ever find a woman who could put up with his demands.

“He wanted an equal, and had never found one. Until now. Until Sinead.”

While Sinead, despite her history as a burlesque dancer, has relatively little experience when it comes to men and sex. When these two characters get together it turns into an instant and very heated battle for power.

There were two things I particularly liked when it came to the kinky scenes in this book. The first is that Sinead and Niall’s quest for the Ruby demands that the pair of them attend a fetish party where Niall will have to pretend to be Sinead’s slave. And while Sinead, thanks to her burlesque past, has no problems portraying “she who holds the whip”, having to submit nearly kills Niall. It made for a wonderful and very exciting scene.

The second thing that really impressed me is that this book has a realistic approach to the familiar ‘experienced Dom meets new sub’ story-line. Most if not all of the books I’ve read with a similar story-line feature Dom’s who are either geniuses or mind-readers. They never seem to demand anything of their novice that they can’t or won’t do. I loved that Niall did run into Sinead’s boundaries when they first started, and respected them. A rather refreshing approach which did a lot to make the story more believable.

As far as I know there is one more ‘Pleasures’ title to come: The Pleasures of Spring, which is due to be released next April. I’ve got a feeling this title will feature Andy and I hope that we will also get to see more of Roisin. Regardless of whether or not that will be the case, I’ll be looking forward to reading the book when it comes out.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

It is that time of year again when the people of Ireland get to vote for their favourite books.

As always the short list is interesting and sure to cater to the taste of most if not all readers.

One of the titles nominated in Sunday Independent New Comer of the Year category is The Herbalist by Niamh Boyce. I was fortunate enough to read this book last June and have to say that I agree completely that this title deserves to be included.

The Herbalist is the electrifying first novel from Niamh Boyce, winner of the
2012 Hennesssy XO Award for New Irish Writing.
A devastating and emotional story of yearning and obsession in 1930s rural Ireland, in
its freshness and immediacy, The Herbalist will appeal to fans of Edna O'Brien and
Patrick McCabe.

Out of nowhere the herbalist appears and sets out his stall in the market square. In
this dull midlands town the exotic stranger brings glamour and excitement. The townspeople
call him The Don and with his potions and lotions he seems to have a cure for all that
ails them.
Teenager Emily is enchanted. In the herbalist she sees a Clark Gable to her Jean
Harlow, a Fred to her Ginger - a man to make her forget her lowly status in this place
where respectability is everything.
But Emily has competition for the herbalist's attentions. The women of the town - the
women from the big houses and their maids, the shopkeepers and their serving girls, those
of easy virtue and their pious sisters - all seem mesmerised by this visitor who, they
say, can perform miracles.
When Emily discovers the dark side of the man who has infatuated her all summer, once
again her world turns upside down. She may be naive and full of foolish dreams, but she
has a fierce sense of right and wrong. And with the herbalist's fate lying in her hands
she must make the biggest decision of her young life. To make him pay for his sins against
the women of the town? Or let him escape to cast his spell on another town?The Herbalist is a riveting story about the shadow side of Irish life - the
snobbery, the fear of sex, the tragedy of women destroyed by social convention and the
bravery of those who defied it. It is an unforgettable story from a rare new talent.
In addition to winning the 2012 Hennessy New Writing Award, Niamh Boyce has been
shortlisted for the 2011 Francis McManus Short Story competition, the 2010 Hennessy
Literary Award and the 2010 Molly Keane Award.

The Herbalist is the electrifying first novel from Niamh Boyce, winner of the
2012 Hennesssy XO Award for New Irish Writing.
A devastating and emotional story of yearning and obsession in 1930s rural Ireland, in
its freshness and immediacy, The Herbalist will appeal to fans of Edna O'Brien and
Patrick McCabe.

Out of nowhere the herbalist appears and sets out his stall in the market square. In
this dull midlands town the exotic stranger brings glamour and excitement. The townspeople
call him The Don and with his potions and lotions he seems to have a cure for all that
ails them.
Teenager Emily is enchanted. In the herbalist she sees a Clark Gable to her Jean
Harlow, a Fred to her Ginger - a man to make her forget her lowly status in this place
where respectability is everything.
But Emily has competition for the herbalist's attentions. The women of the town - the
women from the big houses and their maids, the shopkeepers and their serving girls, those
of easy virtue and their pious sisters - all seem mesmerised by this visitor who, they
say, can perform miracles.
When Emily discovers the dark side of the man who has infatuated her all summer, once
again her world turns upside down. She may be naive and full of foolish dreams, but she
has a fierce sense of right and wrong. And with the herbalist's fate lying in her hands
she must make the biggest decision of her young life. To make him pay for his sins against
the women of the town? Or let him escape to cast his spell on another town?The Herbalist is a riveting story about the shadow side of Irish life - the
snobbery, the fear of sex, the tragedy of women destroyed by social convention and the
bravery of those who defied it. It is an unforgettable story from a rare new talent.
In addition to winning the 2012 Hennessy New Writing Award, Niamh Boyce has been
shortlisted for the 2011 Francis McManus Short Story competition, the 2010 Hennessy
Literary Award and the 2010 Molly Keane Award.

The Herbalist is the electrifying first novel from Niamh Boyce, winner of the
2012 Hennesssy XO Award for New Irish Writing.
A devastating and emotional story of yearning and obsession in 1930s rural Ireland, in
its freshness and immediacy, The Herbalist will appeal to fans of Edna O'Brien and
Patrick McCabe.

Out of nowhere the herbalist appears and sets out his stall in the market square. In
this dull midlands town the exotic stranger brings glamour and excitement. The townspeople
call him The Don and with his potions and lotions he seems to have a cure for all that
ails them.
Teenager Emily is enchanted. In the herbalist she sees a Clark Gable to her Jean
Harlow, a Fred to her Ginger - a man to make her forget her lowly status in this place
where respectability is everything.
But Emily has competition for the herbalist's attentions. The women of the town - the
women from the big houses and their maids, the shopkeepers and their serving girls, those
of easy virtue and their pious sisters - all seem mesmerised by this visitor who, they
say, can perform miracles.
When Emily discovers the dark side of the man who has infatuated her all summer, once
again her world turns upside down. She may be naive and full of foolish dreams, but she
has a fierce sense of right and wrong. And with the herbalist's fate lying in her hands
she must make the biggest decision of her young life. To make him pay for his sins against
the women of the town? Or let him escape to cast his spell on another town?The Herbalist is a riveting story about the shadow side of Irish life - the
snobbery, the fear of sex, the tragedy of women destroyed by social convention and the
bravery of those who defied it. It is an unforgettable story from a rare new talent.
In addition to winning the 2012 Hennessy New Writing Award, Niamh Boyce has been
shortlisted for the 2011 Francis McManus Short Story competition, the 2010 Hennessy
Literary Award and the 2010 Molly Keane Award.

Teenager Emily is spellbound by the exotic stranger -
here is a man of the world who won't care that she's not respectable.

However, Emily has competition for the herbalist's attentions. It seems
the women of her small town are all mesmerized by the visitor who, they
say, can perform miracles.

When Emily discovers the miracle-worker's
dark side, her world turns upside down. She may be naive, but she has a
fierce sense of right and wrong. With his fate lying in her hands, Emily
must make the biggest decision of her young life. To make the herbalist
pay for his sins against the women of the town? Or let him escape to
cast his spell on another place?

My review of The Herbalist can be found by clicking here."This is a beautiful and fascinating book. It captures the claustrophobic
atmosphere of a small town in Ireland
in the 1930’s with an accuracy that is almost painful."

I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written, charming and thought-provokinghistorical novel.

The kind people of Penguin Ireland have offered me the opportunity to give a copy of this title to one of my followers. If you'd like to be in with a chance to win please leave a comment to this post, including details on how you may be contacted. One week from today, on November, 26th, I'll pick and contact a winner. This competition will be restricted to followers in England and Ireland.Finally, don't forget to vote for this and/or other titles. Voting in the Bord Gais Energy Book Awards is open right now:

The Herbalist is the electrifying first novel from Niamh Boyce, winner of the
2012 Hennesssy XO Award for New Irish Writing.
A devastating and emotional story of yearning and obsession in 1930s rural Ireland, in
its freshness and immediacy, The Herbalist will appeal to fans of Edna O'Brien and
Patrick McCabe.

Out of nowhere the herbalist appears and sets out his stall in the market square. In
this dull midlands town the exotic stranger brings glamour and excitement. The townspeople
call him The Don and with his potions and lotions he seems to have a cure for all that
ails them.
Teenager Emily is enchanted. In the herbalist she sees a Clark Gable to her Jean
Harlow, a Fred to her Ginger - a man to make her forget her lowly status in this place
where respectability is everything.
But Emily has competition for the herbalist's attentions. The women of the town - the
women from the big houses and their maids, the shopkeepers and their serving girls, those
of easy virtue and their pious sisters - all seem mesmerised by this visitor who, they
say, can perform miracles.
When Emily discovers the dark side of the man who has infatuated her all summer, once
again her world turns upside down. She may be naive and full of foolish dreams, but she
has a fierce sense of right and wrong. And with the herbalist's fate lying in her hands
she must make the biggest decision of her young life. To make him pay for his sins against
the women of the town? Or let him escape to cast his spell on another town?The Herbalist is a riveting story about the shadow side of Irish life - the
snobbery, the fear of sex, the tragedy of women destroyed by social convention and the
bravery of those who defied it. It is an unforgettable story from a rare new talent.
In addition to winning the 2012 Hennessy New Writing Award, Niamh Boyce has been
shortlisted for the 2011 Francis McManus Short Story competition, the 2010 Hennessy
Literary Award and the 2010 Molly Keane Award.

The Herbalist is the electrifying first novel from Niamh Boyce, winner of the
2012 Hennesssy XO Award for New Irish Writing.
A devastating and emotional story of yearning and obsession in 1930s rural Ireland, in
its freshness and immediacy, The Herbalist will appeal to fans of Edna O'Brien and
Patrick McCabe.

Out of nowhere the herbalist appears and sets out his stall in the market square. In
this dull midlands town the exotic stranger brings glamour and excitement. The townspeople
call him The Don and with his potions and lotions he seems to have a cure for all that
ails them.
Teenager Emily is enchanted. In the herbalist she sees a Clark Gable to her Jean
Harlow, a Fred to her Ginger - a man to make her forget her lowly status in this place
where respectability is everything.
But Emily has competition for the herbalist's attentions. The women of the town - the
women from the big houses and their maids, the shopkeepers and their serving girls, those
of easy virtue and their pious sisters - all seem mesmerised by this visitor who, they
say, can perform miracles.
When Emily discovers the dark side of the man who has infatuated her all summer, once
again her world turns upside down. She may be naive and full of foolish dreams, but she
has a fierce sense of right and wrong. And with the herbalist's fate lying in her hands
she must make the biggest decision of her young life. To make him pay for his sins against
the women of the town? Or let him escape to cast his spell on another town?The Herbalist is a riveting story about the shadow side of Irish life - the
snobbery, the fear of sex, the tragedy of women destroyed by social convention and the
bravery of those who defied it. It is an unforgettable story from a rare new talent.
In addition to winning the 2012 Hennessy New Writing Award, Niamh Boyce has been
shortlisted for the 2011 Francis McManus Short Story competition, the 2010 Hennessy
Literary Award and the 2010 Molly Keane Award.

The Herbalist is the electrifying first novel from Niamh Boyce, winner of the
2012 Hennesssy XO Award for New Irish Writing.
A devastating and emotional story of yearning and obsession in 1930s rural Ireland, in
its freshness and immediacy, The Herbalist will appeal to fans of Edna O'Brien and
Patrick McCabe.

Out of nowhere the herbalist appears and sets out his stall in the market square. In
this dull midlands town the exotic stranger brings glamour and excitement. The townspeople
call him The Don and with his potions and lotions he seems to have a cure for all that
ails them.
Teenager Emily is enchanted. In the herbalist she sees a Clark Gable to her Jean
Harlow, a Fred to her Ginger - a man to make her forget her lowly status in this place
where respectability is everything.
But Emily has competition for the herbalist's attentions. The women of the town - the
women from the big houses and their maids, the shopkeepers and their serving girls, those
of easy virtue and their pious sisters - all seem mesmerised by this visitor who, they
say, can perform miracles.
When Emily discovers the dark side of the man who has infatuated her all summer, once
again her world turns upside down. She may be naive and full of foolish dreams, but she
has a fierce sense of right and wrong. And with the herbalist's fate lying in her hands
she must make the biggest decision of her young life. To make him pay for his sins against
the women of the town? Or let him escape to cast his spell on another town?The Herbalist is a riveting story about the shadow side of Irish life - the
snobbery, the fear of sex, the tragedy of women destroyed by social convention and the
bravery of those who defied it. It is an unforgettable story from a rare new talent.
In addition to winning the 2012 Hennessy New Writing Award, Niamh Boyce has been
shortlisted for the 2011 Francis McManus Short Story competition, the 2010 Hennessy
Literary Award and the 2010 Molly Keane Award.

“As leftover turkey and stuffing
give way to stockings and little black dresses, this tantalizingly sexy eBook
bundle offers up holiday-themed novellas from a trio of beloved romance
authors. Lisa Renee Jones gives a dedicated reporter and a powerful businessman
a chance to count their Thanksgiving blessings in Play with Me; Mary Ann Rivers presents Snowfall, the story of a woman who confronts a life-changing
event—hopefully with a special man by her side—just in time for Christmas; and
in Serena Bell’s After Midnight, an
explosive New Year’s kiss leaves two strangers wondering whether they’ll ever
see each other again.”

PLAY WITH ME by Lisa Renee Jones
(4)

The
blurb:

Kali Miller has spent three
years reporting fluff stories, waiting for the article that will launch her
career to new heights. When she suddenly finds herself forced to take a job as
an executive secretary at a Vegas casino, Kali meets the subject of what will
surely be a shocking exposé: her boss, Damion Ward, the arrogant and undeniably
sexy CEO. But after Damion invites her to help him plan a Thanksgiving charity
event, Kali begins to see another side of the man. And when she surrenders to
the exhilarating tension simmering between them, Kali hopes her story will have
a happy ending.

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone following
my reviews that I enjoy Lisa Renee Jones’ writing. Just as it didn’t surprise
me that this was an easy to read, easy to lose yourself in sort of story.
However, this story, to me also felt a bit too rushed, both in the way it was
written and in the way the story progressed. I’m all for romantic stories, and
am in fact a sucker for instant attraction between two characters. And yet I
couldn’t help feeling that everything in this story happened a bit too fast. In
fact, I am convinced that if this story had taken place over, say, three months
rather than three weeks, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

That is not to say I disliked this story. Lisa
Renee Jones does steamy between two characters so well the heat radiates of the
page.But to have that
heat acted upon within minutes of two characters meeting is a bit too fast for
me, no matter how strong the attraction. SNOWFALL by Mary Ann Rivers (3)

The blurb:

Jenny
Wright can’t get enough of her erotic conversations with someone she knows only
as “C.” Flirting online helps Jenny temporarily escape confronting the changes
to her life as she slowly loses her vision. Jenny’s occupational therapist,
Evan Carlisle-Ford, is helping her prepare for the challenges ahead, but the
forthright, trustworthy man can no longer ignore his growing attraction to his
fiercely intelligent client. Now Jenny must choose between the safe, anonymous
“C”—or the flesh-and-blood Evan, whose heated kisses can melt snow faster than
it can fall.

Snowfall is the
sort of story in which I loved the concept and wasn’t too fond of the
execution. Or rather, I couldn’t quite follow the thoughts of Jenny. The way
her emotions and reactions are described just didn’t click with me. Time and
again I found myself thinking, hang on, what did I just read and having to go
back to try and make sense of what I’d read. I’m afraid I’m not a patient enough
reader for that. And so I found myself just reading on, regardless of whether
or not I understood Jenny’s thoughts and feelings. And as a consequence I almost
certainly missed some of what was happening to Jenny. And that is a shame
because, I did love the idea behind the story – of a woman coming to terms with
the fact that she’s losing her vision and might be going blind.

Because writing
style and the way words are used are such a very personal thing I’m convinced
that what didn’t work for me in this novella may well be what works perfectly
well for another reader. AFTER MIDNIGHT by Serena Bell (4)

The
blurb:

The clock is ticking down to
midnight on New Year’s Eve, and all Nora Hart and Miles Shephard can think
about is kissing each other—even though they met just minutes before. Then, as
fast as Miles enters Nora’s life, he’s gone . . . and she never even gets the
name of the man she thinks might just be “the one.” One year later, Nora and
Miles are reunited. The chemistry between them is just as strong as they
remember. But Miles broke her heart once before—and this time around, Nora’s
not sure whether she can give love a second chance.

This is a sweet
story centered around two likeable characters who both are exactly what the
other needs but meet at the wrong time. Nora has just broken up with her
cheating long-term boyfriend and Miles’ fiancé has left him after he’s accused
of embezzling money. Their intense meeting on New Year’s Eve lasts barely 15
minutes and yet they are unable to get each other out of their heads. When they
meet again, about 11 months later they pick up right where they left off but
issues with trust attempt to throw a spanner in the works.

Especially Nora is
a wonderful character, refusing to give up on her faith in people just because
her boyfriend turned out to be a bastard. Her optimistic nature makes her the
sort of character you would like to call your friend. Of course the fact that
she is so trusting makes it a bit hard to believe that she’d have such an issue
with showing anyone her phone, but that’s a minor issue and not important
enough to make me think less of the story. It is, for me at least, impossible
not to like a character who comes out with sentiments like the following:

“Of course we’re going to
screw up and fail to keep our resolutions. We know that. But we bother and make
them anyway. Because we have faith that we can be better people. And we can.”

Overall “Heating
up the Holidays” is the perfect seasonal read for those moments when
you just want to sit back, relax and lose yourself in a comfortable and sexy
romance.

This
sensuous short story is the prequel to Liberate Yourself (previously published
as Valentina), the first novel in the Desires Unlocked Trilogy.

In Unlock Yourself let me draw you into the seductive world of Belle when she
meets the iconic silent movie star Louise Brooks while wandering in the
glittering wintry streets of Berlin in 1929 on a quest to unlock the deepest,
most secret part of herself. Louise takes Belle to a place where she can
explore her erotic dreams and fantasies while also experience the most
intensely romantic liaison she has ever known.

========================================================

This novella is a
wonderful introduction to the Desires Unlocked series.

The story is set in
Berlin in
1928 and Ludwika has slipped away from her controlling husband. She is roaming
the streets looking for something although she doesn’t know what.

“She needs some inspiration to
keep her heart in motion, to stop herself from withering and fading away
beneath her husband’s touch.”

Seen by her husband
as the instrument necessary to provide him with the offspring he wants, Ludwika
wants to feel passion:

“…a communion with a fellow
soul.”

When she meets a
beautiful young woman called Louise, Ludwika allows herself to be brought to a
party which will open her eyes to passion and cause her to lose her long hair
in favour of a haircut that makes a statement:

“I am no longer encumbered by
the wants of men. What I want is what I want for myself.”

Ludwika may have to
return to her cold husband before the night is over, she won’t be the same
woman. With her newly acquired name, Belle, and an understanding of passion,
the woman has discovered that freedom is achievable, even within the confines
of an unhappy marriage, if only she has the courage to go look for it.

This free novella
is a wonderful introduction to Evie Blake’s writing and her “Desires
Unlocked” titles. Even with only 48 pages to work with Evie Blake gives
her readers a wonderful sample of her exquisite writing, her wonderful way with
words and impressive storytelling powers. At the same time, readers who have
already read the first book in the trilogy, are given a wonderful opportunity
to spend a little more time with Bella and find out how this wonderful
character discovered her passion.

This is a lot more
than just another erotic short; this is a sexy story told in a literary style.
You’ll read this book for the beautiful writing as much as for the tantalizing
subject.

Do yourself a huge
favour and pick this free novella up from Amazon (UK or USA) and allow it
to lead you on to the full Desires Unlocked Trilogy.

================================================================

The Desires
Unlocked Trilogy:

LIBERATE YOURSELF (currently available)

Blurb, taken from the author’s website:

Previously published under the title
Valentina, the first book in the Desires Unlocked Trilogy is now available in
e-book edition under the title Liberate Yourself 12th November 2013

AN
EROTIC STORY OF LOVE, MYSTERY AND THE DARK SIDE OF DESIRE

Milan, 2012. Photographer Valentina Rosselli is
living with her lover of one year, Theo Steen, but refuses to commit to
anything more. When she is offered an intriguing photography
assignment, to take pictures of those engaged in the darker side of
desire, she gets drawn into a shadowy world that reveals a part of
her she never knew existed….

Venice, 1929.
Belle is the alter ego of a well-to-do socialite, trapped in an unhappy
marriage and constrained by society. As Belle she plays out her fantasies by
leading a secret life as a courtesan – but she will only truly be set free by
finding the man who will love her.

Though decades separate them, Belle and Valentina’s lives are intertwined. Both
will experience an awakening of their latent desires, but will they discover
the connection between physical passion and true love?

'Both a heartbreaking love story
and a romance raunchy enough to keep you warm at night' — Independent

Previously
published in print and ebook as VALENTINA
ON THE EDGE, the second book in
the Desires Unlocked Trilogy is now available in e-book edition under the title
Lose Yourself from 12th November 2013.

2012. Photographer Valentina Rosselli has
been invited to participate in a show of erotic photography in London, an
opportunity she finds impossible to turn down. Yet London is where her ex-lover Theo Steen now
lives. Deep down Valentina knows that Theo is the only man she’s ever loved. Is
it possible that they might be able to rekindle their passion, or has she lost
him forever?

1948. Maria leaves Italy to study contemporary dance in London, where she falls
passionately in love for the first time – but when she follows her lover to
post-war Paris, with its hidden underworld of latent desire, she finds that
love induces her to behave in ways she never thought possible.

As Valentina uncovers Maria’s story, and its ties to her own, she begins to
question how much one should change for love. Is she brave enough to risk her
heart and step over the edge?

New York, 2013. Valentina Rosselli
is recovering her lust for life after the tragic death of her fiancé, Theo
Steen, one year before. With her old friend Leonardo, she unlocks her
inner sexuality, reaching a level of passion she’d never thought possible. Yet
as she settles into her new life, a shock from the past threatens to ruin
everything. Valentina must make a choice: but will she follow her
heart?

Berlin, 1984.
Tina Rosselli, the famous fashion photographer is permitted to cross the border
into East Berlin for a single day. There, she
meets a charismatic young cellist who arouses her as she hasn’t been in years.
A passionate affair follows; one which will affect Tina for the rest of her
life.

As the stories of the two women finally converge, both must embrace their inner
desires and follow the path to true love

Parker Wood’s dreams of becoming a
professional baseball player are shattered when he’s injured in a devastating
car crash. After two years in hospitals and physical rehab facilities, he’s
ready to move back to his childhood home and take over the family landscaping
company. The house and business are his, now that his father has passed.

Sophie Vaughn has suffered through
a hellishly public divorce from a husband who couldn’t manage to stay faithful
for two months of marriage. Determined not to let her personal drama impact her
successful wedding and party planning business, she buys her parents’ old
house, hoping the comfort of familiar surroundings will help her heal.

When Parker and Sophie discover
they’re neighbors once again, it’s as if time has stood still. Their friendship
is quickly rekindled, along with the decade-long crush neither of them ever
admitted having. Then the heat between them exposes a long-held secret that
threatens to tear them apart…unless they can detach from their painful pasts
and move forward—together.

Warning: Contains sultry summer
nights, steamy pool-side encounters, and you’ll never look at a jar of peanut
butter the same way again.

====================================================

People following my reviews will know that I do
not like protracted drama. I love it when the characters in a (love)story have
issues they need to deal with. I enjoy the tension a misunderstanding can
create for the characters as well as for the reader. What I have a hard time
reading are books in which the issues aren’t really issues, or where the
problems seem to appear out of nowhere. And what I dislike most are characters
drawing the issues out for chapters on end when just a simple conversation
would have cleared the whole thing up. How wonderful that Karen Stivali managed
to avoid all my pet hates. Yes there was drama, in fact both Parker and Sophie
have issues with trust. But, as the backstory shows, both of them have every
reason to feel insecure, good reasons for having trouble trusting each other.
It was so good to see Sophie and Parker encounter difficulties and deal with
them immediately.

Parker and Sophie felt like real people to me,
the sort of people you might meet and befriend. They are both basically good
and yet there is nothing saintly about them. They aren’t perfect, and are not
described to make them appear as such. They are perfect for each other though just
as they were perfect for this story and perfect for this reader.

There were one or two moments in this book that
made me all warm and happy. When Sophie sees Parker’s scars and he
flinches because he thinks they are ugly to look at, she says:

“I kinda like them...They remind
me that you’re still alive.”

Another moment that really got to me, for a
multitude of reasons I won’t go into right now, was when Parker, Sophie and Joey
are in the garden, just like old times, and Parker says:

“To old friends making new
memories.”

After which Sophie reflects that:

“New memories sounded like a great
idea.”

The whole book is melt worthy, but when Parker
and Sophie danced to “Wonderful Tonight” I was almost reduced to a puddle, that
song being the one the husband and I opened the dancing during our post-wedding
party with.

But the best line in this book was found very
near the end.

“All of that is nothing but the
past. You’re my future. My whole future.”

Now,
before anybody thinks that the book I’ve just reviewed is a fluffy and rather
chaste run of the mill romance, I’d better add that this is one hot story. The
relationship between Parker and Sophie goes from charmingly innocent and
insecure to steaming in just a few pages of highly imaginative lovemaking. It
is proof of just how wonderful an author Karen Stivali is that she manages to
strike exactly the right balance between story and steam. It is good to know
that Mrs. Stivali has more books to her name than the two I’ve read by her so
far. I can easily see her join ranks with Nora Roberts and become one of my
go-to authors when I’m stuck in a (reading) rut or in need of some instant
cheering up.

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About Me

My name is Marleen. I'm Dutch but have been living in Ireland for well over 15 years now. I have a passion and love for reading and books. Since early 2008 I have been lucky enough to have been working part time in the library in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan where among other things I run the library reading group.
I will read almost anything that has words in it, and post my thoughts on everything I read in this blog:

Review Disclaimer

In this blog I write my thoughts on every book I read. Some I will have brought home from the library, some will have been bought while others will have been sent to me for review. I do not get paid for reading and reviewing any books and all opinions are mine and mine alone. Whether a book was borrowed, bought or received will be indicated at the top of every review.

Review Policy

I accept books for review but do have one or two requests and conditions:

* Feel free to email me with an offer, but please have a look at my blog and the books I've read in the past first to check if your genre is one I'm likely to enjoy.

* Bear in mind that I write my thoughts about every book I read in this blog, regardless of whether or not I enjoyed it. All my posts are automatically linked to my Facebook account so they will show up there. If I have accepted a book for review and don't like it I will however refrain from posting a link on Twitter or copying the review to sites like Amazon.Positive reviews, on the other hand, I will share as widely as I can.

* Please refrain from flooding my inbox with follow up emails. Trust me to inform you when I have a review posted.